CVE-2019-18426: WhatsApp bug allowed remote access to users computers with just a text message
Recently, developers of famous messaging app acknowledged and patched a major vulnerability that gave malicious users the ability to access files on a victim's computer.
A target user may fall prey to this attack simply clicking a disguised link preview sent via the messaging app: a really easy mistake for users to make.
Which version was affected?
The vulnerability did not affected every WhatsApp user: only the iOS version of the messaging app prior to v2.20.10, paired to either a PC or MacOS WhatsApp desktop app prior to v0.3.9309 are vulnerable.
According to official bug report [1]:
A vulnerability in WhatsApp Desktop when paired with WhatsApp for iPhone allows cross-site scripting and local file reading.
Exploiting the vulnerability requires the victim to click a link preview from a specially crafted text message.
My2C
Just some weeks ago, the famous report about Jeff Bezos iPhone hacking [2] claims that the smartphone may have been hacked following the receipt of a malicious WhatsApp message.
Is there a connection?